Alcohol and stroke prevention.It has long been accepted that moderate alcohol use can be part of a healthy lifestyle by protecting against heart disease. New research has given alcohol another badge of honor with respect to strokes. The most common type of stroke, ischemic Ischemic An inadequate supply of blood to a part of the body, caused by partial or total blockage of an artery. Mentioned in: Antiangiogenic Therapy, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Ventricular Fibrillation ischemic (or non-hmorrhagic), is caused by a restriction of blood to the brain caused by a blood clot blood clot n. A semisolid, gelatinous mass of coagulated blood that consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a fibrin network. . Researchers found that adults who consumed one or two drinks a day had 45% less risk of this type of stroke as those who did not drink. Heavy drinkers on the other hand, who drank seven or more drinks a day, had about three times the risk of ischemic stroke. Although the mechanism of alcohol's protective effect is not known, these researchers theorize the·o·rize v. the·o·rized, the·o·riz·ing, the·o·riz·es v.intr. To formulate theories or a theory; speculate. v.tr. To propose a theory about. that it may reduce blood clotting. Moderate alcohol consumption increases high density lipoprotein High density lipoprotein (HDL) A fraction of total serum lipids, the so called "good" cholesterol. Mentioned in: Hypercholesterolemia (the good cholesterol), which maybe one of the ways it protects against heart disease. Runners who have one or two drinks a day can do so with a doubly clear conscience--both heart disease and stroke protection are improved by your running and your evening drink. (The Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal, published 48 times per year by the American Medical Association. JAMA is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world. , 1999, Vol. 281, No. 1, pp. 53-60) |
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